Inspiration from ACE Interrupters in Great Britain
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Inspiration from ACE Interrupters in Great Britain Sharing the stories of individuals who have made a remarkable difference to those affected by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) 1 Inspiration from ACE Interrupters in Great Britain Sharing the stories of individuals who have made a remarkable difference to those affected by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Editors: Katie Hardcastle, Mark A. Bellis, Kat Ford, Katy Hetherington, Joanne Hopkins and Emma Clark. Contributors: Interviews were undertaken and written by Emma Clark. Acknowledgments Sincere thanks are extended to all the interviewees who kindly gave up their time to share their stories. The editors would also like to thank Berit Kieselbach and Anne Mullin for providing peer review, and Karen Hughes and Rob Kelly for their support in producing the document. The ACE interrupters we meet in this book are from across England, Wales and Scotland and were interviewed between May and November 2019. Where appropriate, some names have been changed to protect anonymity. If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this book and would like further information or support, please contact your GP in the first instance. Alternatively, you may want to seek support from the following organisations: • NSPCC is a major UK charity specialising in child protection and the prevention of cruelty to children. The NSPCC’s purpose is to end cruelty to children. Help for adults concerned about a child: Call 0808 800 5000 or text 88858. If you are an adult that experienced abuse as a child, the NSPCC can also provide help and advice. • Victim Support is a national charity giving free and confidential help to anyone affected by crime. Call 0808 168 9111. • Samaritans If you are in crisis, or something is getting you down, the Samaritans can be contacted 24 hours a day, every day of the week. Call 116 123. • Relate is a counselling service working to promote health, respect and justice in couple and family relationships. Call 0300 003 0396. • Mind provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. It campaigns to improve mental health services, raise awareness and promote understanding. Call 0300 123 3393 or text 86463. © 2020 Public Health Wales NHS Trust This material is restricted access and not covered by the terms of the Open Government Licence. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the contributors/editors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Public Health Wales NHS Trust, Public Health Scotland or the Cymru Well Wales ACE Support Hub. ISBN 978-1-78986-154-72 Contents Contents 1 Introduction 3 Iain Smith – the revolutionary 7 Rob Green – pastoral at heart 10 Lily – Supermum 13 Eileen Shannon – the children’s advocate 16 Jain Boon – creative activist 20 Lindsey Watkins – learning about caring 24 Kevin Neary – wee big man 27 Kath Bevan – educational visionary 30 Mel Berry – kind and curious 33 Pattie Santelices – a shoulder to cry on 36 Chloe – fighting demons 39 Jonny Matthew – changing attitudes 42 Liz Gregory – passionate reformer 45 Jack Rowlands – the boy from Croydon 49 Corin Morgan-Armstrong – the family man 52 Summary 55 References 59 Inspiration from ACE Interrupters in Great Britain Introduction For many, it will come as no surprise that adverse childhood experiences or ACEs (Box 1) can have a lifelong impact on the behaviour, health and life course of individuals. Those working with children and families will be aware of how chronic childhood trauma from abuse, neglect, or living with circumstances such as domestic violence, can result in children careering into a problematic adolescence, and later an unhealthy, unproductive and sometimes criminal adulthood. Sadly, those with a “I thought maybe I am crazy, maybe legacy of ACEs may never reach their true potential. All I am so delusional about my ability as a parent because I had nothing to too often they go on to have children who also suffer compare it to” ACEs, meaning toxic childhood trauma is passed from Lily, page 13 generation to generation. However, it is also apparent that many individuals who suffer ACEs do manage to flourish, going on to live happy and healthy lives. Escaping the impact of a traumatic childhood is often aided by support, direction and hope from a trusted individual – sometimes acting alone, often as part of a broader service. This book collects together stories of such pioneering individuals. Known as ACE interrupters, these are people who have helped prevent ACEs, reduced their impact on children, or supported adolescents and adults whose health and life course prospects were otherwise diminished as a result of their childhood experiences. These are real stories of real people; the challenges they have faced and continue to face; their achievements and the goals they continue to strive for. Whilst sometimes shocking, saddening or even infuriating, it is hoped that these stories will also “We’ve got to do a lot more to keep these be heart-warming, reassuring and ultimately inspiring. children part of society, it’s too easy to write them off” In these stories, we see how passionate individuals can Eileen Shannon, head teacher, be responsible for considerable change to improve the Victoria Road PRU, London, page 16 lives of others. Box 1: What are adverse childhood experiences or ACEs? ACEs is a collective term used to describe suffering physical, sexual or emotional abuse or neglect as a child, or growing up in a household affected by domestic violence, substance use, mental health issues or substantive problems with criminal justice.1 ACEs was a term first used by Dr Vincent Felitti in the US in the 1990s - he found that many of his patients who were failing to control their weight were suffering from unresolved childhood trauma, particularly sexual abuse. Such patients reported that eating provided a coping mechanism and that their weight gain helped them feel safe from abuse. Working with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr Felitti developed the first ACE Study to further examine these issues in a sample of 17,000 patients. They found strong relationships between the number of ACEs suffered in childhood and a wide range of health- harming behaviours as well as physical and mental health conditions experienced as an adult.2 The ACE questionnaire has since been widely used in research across many settings and countries, including in England3 and Wales,4 leading to the creation of a large evidence base on the harmful impacts that ACEs have across the life course. 3 Inspiration from ACE Interrupters in Great Britain The occurrence of ACEs across the nations of Box 2: The percentage of adults exposed to the United Kingdom (UK) and in other countries ACEs in England and Wales3,4 around the world is alarming. Overall, about half of adults in the UK appear to have experienced ACE type Adults in Adults in England Wales at least one ACE while growing up, and more Verbal abuse 17% 20% than 1 in 10 experienced in excess of four.5 Between 14% and 16% in England and Wales Physical abuse 14% 16% report a history of childhood physical abuse Sexual abuse 6% 7% (Box 2). Although it is difficult to estimate how Emotional neglect - 7% many children are currently exposed to ACEs, Physical neglect - 4% Child maltreatment figures suggest that around 16% of children Parental separation 23% 25% in England aged 0–5 years and 19% of those Domestic violence 12% 17% aged 6–15 years are presently growing up in Mental illness 12% 18% a household with an adult that has been the Alcohol abuse 9% 13% victim of domestic violence, experienced mental included Drug abuse 4% 6% illness or a substance use problem.6 An estimated Childhood household Incarceration 40,000 children in Scotland are the victims of 4% 4% child maltreatment.7 Across England, Wales and Scotland, over 100,000 children each year “When I was about four to five, my dad was an alcoholic and my mum worked full time. are affected by having a parent in prison.8 These She was never home, it felt like she never figures may considerably underestimate the true interacted with me, she didn’t love me, she extent of childhood adversity, which is not limited didn’t care about me” to the ACEs outlined in Box 2. Increasingly the Chloe, page 39 impacts of experiences such as bullying, death of a parent or sibling, exposure to community violence or war, and living with adverse economic conditions are recognised.9–11 “I was always scared. To ensure we continue to see the people behind these statistics, I could never take in what a few courageous individuals in this book also share their life- anybody was telling me” stories, discussing the ACEs they personally experienced while Kevin Neary, founder of Aid & also highlighting the resources they drew upon for support (Lily, Abet, Edinburgh, page 27 Kevin and Chloe relate their stories on pages 13, 27 and 39). The impact of ACEs can be immediate and visible if a child is harmed by physical abuse or shows signs of physical neglect that may potentially result in the need for medical treatment,12,13 but not all affected children come to the attention of supportive services. The impact of ACES on child mental health includes very young children and can increase rates of childhood anxiety and physical symptoms, such as headaches, skin complaints and digestive problems.14 Children who have poorer mental health and behavioural issues, such as hyperactivity or problems managing relationships, are more likely to regularly miss or even be excluded from school.15 Even when in school, children who are suffering adversity at home can find it harder to trust and engage with teachers and peers; many will have behavioural problems.